Junger Ritter in der Pose des Heiligen Michael vor einem Torhaus 

Peter Becker created this pencil drawing, "Young Knight in the Pose of Saint Michael Before a Gatehouse," in 19th-century Germany. It depicts a young man dressed as a knight, in the guise of Saint Michael, standing before the arched entrance of a medieval gatehouse. The artwork evokes a sense of historical romanticism, a cultural phenomenon popular at the time. The rediscovery of the Middle Ages appealed to German nationalism and its artistic imagination. Becker's work engages with the visual codes of heroism and religious symbolism, referencing the figure of Saint Michael, a protector against evil. The choice of a young knight may allude to the ideals of chivalry and moral purity. The setting, with its gothic architectural elements, reinforces this nostalgic vision of the past. Art historians might delve into the archives of art academies and exhibition records to discover the social networks that supported Becker's work and understand how he was promoted as an artist.